Cops: Man Arrested for String of Church Burglaries

A Hempstead man has been arrested in connection with a string of church burglaries in the Glen Cove area as well as in Williston Park, authorities said.

Nassau Police say they received a 911 call for a burglary alarm at St. Hyacinth Church, 319 Cedar Swamp Road in Glen Head on Sunday at 12:46 a.m. When police arrived, they observed Denis Alvarado, 29, exiting the rear of the church. Alvarado ran into a wooded area to escape police. After a foot pursuit, Glen Cove Police apprehended the defendant and placed him under arrest without further incident.

After an investigation, Nassau detectives determined that Alvarado was responsible for the following burglaries:

• Feb. 10, 2013 – St. Hyacinth Church, Glen Head. Proceeds were a guitar and a pair of column speakers.
• March 2, 2014 – St. Aidan’s Church – 505 Willis Avenue, Williston Park where a television was removed from the alter.
• Nov. 14, 2014 – St. Patrick’s Church – 235 Glen Street, Glen Cove. Proceeds were an IPad, a computer hard drive and an Apple computer.
• Dec. 1, 2014 – St. Hyacinth Church, Glen Head. Proceeds were an undetermined amount of money from the poor boxes and assorted clothing and home goods.
• Dec. 21, 2014 – St. Hyacinth Church, Glen Head. Proceeds were an undetermined amount of money from five poor boxes.
• Jan. 18, 2015 – St. Hyacinth Church, Glen Head. Proceeds were an undetermined amount of money from the poor boxes.

Alvarado is charged with six counts of third-degree burglary, and will be arraigned on Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.

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